Caliper for measuring variations in latch needles



March 4 1924.

R. D. BRADBURY CALIPER FR MEASURING VARIATIONS IN LATCH NEEDLES Filed Dec. 13

2 Sheets-Sheet l March 4 1924.

R. D. BRADBURY GALIPER FOR MEASURNG VARIATIONS IN LATCHl NEEDLES'- Filed nec. 1s. 1921 2 seets-sheet- 2 Hmmm Y gli() Patented Mar. 4, 1924.

Unire stares novara. D. B'RADBURY, or' Annov'nn, rtasslseitr'snrrs.

CALIPERvro-n M'EAsUnrNG 'vlan-remous In LATCH Application med Deeemb'erfia, '1921.v seriarm. 52159731 Andover, in theeounty of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and use-` ful Improvements in Calipers for Measuring Variations in Latch Needles, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in calipers for measuring variations in dimensions of latch needles and consists in the novel construction and the arrangement of parts fully described in this specification, clearly illustrated-in the drawf ings and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings like characters are used to indicate like parts wherever they occur.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a caliper constructed in accordance with my invention. In this view a part of the latch needle is shown in dotted lines in lengthmeasuring position in the caliper, while the same latch needle in full lines is shown separate from the caliper in order to avoid confusion of parts.

Figure 2 shows a view of another type of latch needle from that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view of the caliper illustrated in Figure l with the cover plate removed in order to show the construction and arrangement of the operating parts.

Figure is a sectional view on the line -t of Figure 3, showing the relative arrangement of the feed block and feed screw for the adjustable stationary pin.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrow, showing the mounting of the indicating lever and its position with relation to the dial; at the bottom of the view is shown the feed block and the thumb screw for locking said block in any desired position.

Figure 6 is sideelevation showing the caliper supported for convenience on an inclined stand, the operator to bestationed at the left in said figure; this being one of the many convenient positions in which they caliper may be placed but in no way affecting its operation.

Figure 7 shows in atop plan view the mechanism for operating the indicating needle.

' measurements thousands.

Figure' 8 is a longitudinali sectional-view on the line- 8'-8 of Figure 7 looking in the "showing 1 vthe the indicator direction of the arrow' and mounting'of the supports for and-levers.V

Figure Sis a section on the line 9-9'of Figure 7, looking'in'thedireetion ofthe ar'- row, showing the mounting of the fulci'iimv by whih lever the indicator isV of the lever, operated. y

Figure l() is a sectional view on the'line l0*10 of Figure l-l, showing the construe# tion and arrangement of the parts.

Figure 1l is a detailed perspective view'l of;

an attachment appliedto-the lleft `hand end of the caliper for the purpose 'of'comparative of the outside dimensions of the needle. f A

Figure l2 is a diagrammatic'view show# ing a topplan of a latch needlefand some of the points onV theneedle whosedimensions' are important. l n y The particular 'caliper shown by thek accompanying drawings has' lbeen designed primarily for the measuring of latch needles inv knitting machines for such as are ,used the manufacture ofho'sie'r'y and underwear or in fact any knitted commodity, These needles are madel to'very accurate dimensions and it is exceedingly importantv Yfor the proper functioning of the needles when placed in the knitting .kmachinespthat they show a minimum variation in their impor; tant dimensions. As there'are something like 200 or more needles grouped in one mafchine'that knits one stockin'g,.it is lreadily seen that the problem ofsortingV or group# ing needles according'to dimensionaljvari'ation doesnot involve merelyI the measuring of a few needles, but the lmeasuring of a large quantity, probablyy amounting to The dial indicating caliper as'shownhas been devised as a new and novel means forl determining the relative variation in all important dimensions for latch needles and to be able to perform these operations quickly and accurately ,without resetting and adjust-Y ing .the caliper for each needle. The caliper is really a comparative gauge as it shows instantly when a needle is in place, the amount of variation in thousandthsof an inch over or under the predetermined standard 1 for which the caliper is set. One of the most important dimensions of a latch needle is the length from the inside of the hook to the inside of the butt. With ordinary calipers or the common measuring instruments, it is impossible to read this dimension direct eX- cept by measuring over all length and subtracting widths or thicknesses which in themselves will vary.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a bottom plate or base adapted to be. supported by legs 2. This base is formed with a marginal flange 3, to the face of which is secured a plate or cover 4 by screws .5, the parts 1, 3 and 4 constituting a chamber or housing for the operating parts o' the caliper. 6 represents a post secured to tl e upper face of the base 1 and having attached to its upper end a dial plate 7 by means of a screw 8. The plate 4 near its top end 1s out away to form an opening 9 directly over the dial plate 7 and through which the characters on the dial can be read. This opening 9 is ordinarily protected by glass in the usual way. On the dial in the form shown the division indicates 1/1000 of an inch and the reading begins with Zero in the center, running to the left under the word Long from Zero to 2O and running to the right under the word Short from zero to 20, Zero indicating the normal or standard length of any particular needle dimension, while the readings to the left of zero indicate lengths in excess of the standard, and the readings to the right of zero indicate lengths less than the standardv 10, Figure 3, indicates a block secured to the base 1 by a screw 11. The left hand end of this block is cut out to form forked members 12, 12, the upper forked member 12 holding an adjustable end bearing 13, while the lower forked member 12 carries a complemental adjustable end bearing 14. These bearings 13 and 14 are suitably formed upon their inner ends to receive and hold the ends of an arbor 15. 16 represents a hub or bell crank lever mounted on the body portion of the arbor 15 in the usual way. The body portion of this arbor 15 may be circular and a like opening in the hub 16 may be slid tight down on the arbor, or the body portion of the arbor 15 may be rectangular in shape to enter a like opening in the hub 16. The hub 16 is formed with two arms 17, 18, the latter or longer arm serving as a pointer or indicator for the divisions on the dial 7. 2O represents a block similar to the block 10 and in like manner secured to the base 1 by a screw 21. The block 20 is Jformed with forked members 22, 22 carrying adjustable end bearings 23, 23a suitably formed upon their inner ends as bearings for an arbor 24. 25 represents the hub portion of a bell crank lever arranged upon and secured to the arbor 24 in the way heretofore described or in any preferred way. The long arm 26 of this bell crank extends out from the right in Figures 3 and 7, and is arranged to rest on the under side of a pin 27 carried by the free end of the arm 17 of the bell crank having the hub 16; as shown in Figure 8, the end ci' the arm 26 rests in a groove 28 of the pin 27. 29 represents a spring secured at one end to the flange 3 and resting at its free end in the groove 28 of the pin 27 and on the top-side of said pin or on the side opposite that engaged by the arm 26, the spring normally tending to force the pin 27 downward in Figures 3 and 7 and the pointer 18 to the left of the dial plate 7, representing an initial or idle position, as shown in Figure 3.

The bell crank having the hub 25 carries a short arm 30, Figure 7, carrying at its free end a pintle 31, -see Figure 9. This pintle has a. cylindrical enlargement 32 immediately above the arm 30. The base 1 carries a stationary pivot 36, upon which is mounted a hub 35 oit a bell crank having two arms 38 and 34. The arm 34 is slotted at its end forming two forked members 33 which are arranged on each side of the pintle 31 just above and resting upon the top of the enlargement 32 ot the pintle, see Fig. 9. The other arm 38 of this bell crank is formed with a beveled face 39 adjacent the front of the caliper at'the left hand side in order in the form shown to be in position to be engaged by the inner end of a movable push button 40 carried by a 'front plate 41 that is secured to the flange 3 by screws 42. The spring 29 not only normally tends to throw the pointer 18 to the left in Figure 3 in its initial position, but also yieldingly presses the arm 38 outward, together with the push button 40, so that the upper end of the pintle 31, which serves as a movable measuring member 43, can be moved to the right in Figures and 7 with a corresponding motion to the pointer 18. Such motion of the pointer 18 and the member 43 can also be eilected by the push button 40. s shown, the upper end of the pintle 31 constituting the movable measuring member 43 extends through an aperture 44. in the plate 4 oi' sufficient size to permit the required inovement of the movable measuring member. 45 represents a slot in the plate 4, in the form here shown situated slightly in iront. ot the plane of the movable measuring member 43, substantially equal to the oiiiset. distance between the point of measuring contact at the hook and a suitable measuring point of con-V tact on the butt of the needle. This specific arrangement is advantageous for the types of needles shown in the drawings, but not necessarily for all types of needles. 46 represents a screvv-threaded adjusting rod supported at one end in a plate 47 carried 'by the upper face ot the base 1, an unscrewthreadedextension '48 of said1odf46p`a`ssing through 'a complemental aperture in the plate 47, while the extreme en'd'of said extension 48 isprovided with a washer or nut 49tto serve to'hold the rod 46 in place when being'turned. The other end 50 of the rod 48 has the screw threads omitted and is arranged in a complemental aperture in the plate 3 as a bearing. -51 represents a turn button securedto the end 50 by which the rod 46 can be turned. 52 represent-s a block formed with a central screw-threaded aperture in which the Vrod 46 is arranged and engaged." This block upon its upper side is formed k'with an extension 53 arranged in the slot 45 as a guide. 54 represents a pin carried by said extension and projecting above the surface of the Yplate 4 and constituting what I term an adjustable stationary measuring member. As shown, the block 5,2 has its side resting against the lront plate 4l and its base on t-he base l. represents a slot inthe plate 4l extending lengthwise of said plate for the distance required for the travel of the block 52. 56 represents a locking nut Whose shank extends through the slot 55 and is screw-threaded into the block 52. By the described construction, the block 52 and its stationary measuring member 54 maybe slid to the'right or left away from or toward the member 44 and then locked 4in its adjusted position by the locking nut 56. 60 represents a plate formed with a sl'ot 6l, through which passes the shank of a locking nut 62. The'end of this nut extends into a complemental'screw-threaded aperture in the plate 4. By this construction, the plate 60 can be adjusted toward and from the slot 45, toward nor from the pin ofl the movable measuring member 43 or toward or from the pin of the adjustable stationary measuring member 54, or any combination of these movements. The rea-r end of this plate is upturned to serve asa nger piece 63, by which the plate can be moved about and adjusted.- The 'front end of this plate is extended as a linger 64 to serve'as a controlling positioning member, its purpose being to so control the position of the next latch needle when engaged with the two measuring members that the surfaces of the latch needles engaged by said members will enable the latter to fix and determine the distance between two surfaces of said needles notwithstanding the offset position of said surfaces. In practice, the finger 64 is positioned by either a master needle or a blank or needle known to be accurate, and locked in place. Thisfpart requires no further movement until it Vis desired to use some other size or style of needle as a standard ofcomparison. To obtain the best results in knitting machines, latch needles for a given machine or within a certain group should not vary among themselves more than 3/1000 or 4/1000 of-an inch, and no means prior to my inventionhavebeen availableto readily grade latch needles according to these dimensions or sort them for aparticular machine or job. As shown,'thegraduations on the dial plate 7 arein l/lOOO of 'an'inch, running from zeroin the center tothe lett and to the right. In the use of the machine,'the pointer will be at zero only when `the needle being'measured agrees with 'a standard.' Ii the needle being measured is shorter than the standard, the pointer will turn to the right oit-Zero, the number of graduations rcorresponding to the excess of shortage, while if the'needle kbeing measured is longerthan the standard, the pointer will turn to the left of Zero, the number of grad'uations indicating the excess in length.

:InFigures l0 and l1, I have showna plate `formed with a slot 7l, through which passes 'the shank of a locking nut 72, the

end of said shank being arranged-.in a. comf plemental screw-threaded yaperture in the plate 4. The plate 70 is atits right end formed witha finger '73," the end of which constitutes a stationary adjustable measuring member. The'plate 70 is formed'with a depending iiange 74 formed with Va screwthreaded aperture in which is arranged a i screw-threaded adjusting rod 75. The inner end of this rod is formed with a shalt arranged in a complemental aperture in the flange 3. A washer or nut 76 on'the inner end ofthis'rod serves to hold it from being pulled out. Beyond the iiange 74 is a plate or bracket 76, the ends of which are securedv in any desired way to the ange 8. This plate 76 is formed with an aperture through which the outer end of the rod 75 extends to-receive a turn button 77. By the described construction, upon loosening the lock nut 72, the operator by meansl of the button `77 'canadjust lthe plate 70 toward or from Vthe measuring member 44 to any desir'ed position corresponding to a measurement on a standard or master latch needle, after which said plate can be locked inY said position by the lock nut '7 2.

In Figure 12, I have sho-wn diagrammaticallya latchneedle 80,r its butt, so-called, 8l, its hoo'lnso-called, 82, and at 83, 84, 85, 86, 87 and 88 'arrows positioned to indicate points 4at which it is essential to kknow the measurements of latch needles, the measurement 83 being the one determined by measuring members 44 and 54, that being an inside measurement or caliper, while the other measurements indicatedat 84, 85, 86, 87 and vlao tions of the members 43 and 54, the needle is necessarily so engaged by the members 43 and 54 that the distance between said members indicates or measures exactly the distance between the inner 1ffice or the hook and the inner face of the butt 81 as measured on a line from the inner face of said hook substantially normally to the inner face ot said butt, as indicated diagrammatically in Figure l2. By means of the pointer 18 such measurement is indicated o-n the dial.

ln determining the length of a latch needle or the distance between the hook and the butt, the process is as follows: The locking nut 5G is loosened and by turning the button 51 the block 52 carrying with it the member 54 is moved to a distance from the member 43 equal to the said approximate length of the needle. )i needle o proper length or a master needle er templet having the proper dimensions between its inside faces is then placed over 'the two members. `With the master needle or templet thus in place, the button 5l is turned, causing the member 54 to move laterally until the member 54 engages the inner 1lace ot the hook of themaster needle or templet. A continued movement of said button 5l will cause the master needle or templet to move to the right not only the member 54 but also the member 44 until the pointer 18 rests on zero of the dial. TWhen this position is reached, the said nut 56 is tightened, thus securing the member 54 in its adjusted position. The master needle or templet is then removed and the member 43 under action of the spring 29 returns to its normal position and the' pointer to its normal position. ln' this position, when the member 44 is pressed to the right to a point where the pointer 18 is over zero on the dial, the distance between the butt and hook of the standard needle or gauge is indicated and measured as from the outside distance oiC the two pins. This distance, to wit, the outside faces of the two members 44 and 54, is always a predetermined amount to which the caliper has been set.

The needle 80, see Figure l, has its hook 82 pulled on to the member 54 and the operator by pressing the button 40 throws the member 44 to the right suliicient to let it return and engage the inside of the butt 8l. The caliper is now in position ready for the measurement or comparative measurement of any number of needles, which can be quickly and easily done by simply placing the hook of the needle around the member 54, pressing on the button 40, bringing the butt or the needle around the member 44, and then allowing the member 44 to come to a bearing against the inside ol' the butt. The pointer will then indicate the number of thousandths of an inch by which the needles thus positioned varies either long or short from the standard or predetermined dimension referred to. c

The finger 64 being adjustable, can be moved to just the proper position so that the shank of a needle being pressed against the finger will line up so that a true, normal and not inclined measurement will be made. A needle in place for its measurement and the position or' the finger 64 is indicated in Figure l. The purpose of the finger 64 is to enable the operator to readily position the needless with reference to the position occupied by the first needle, so that attention to this point oi position is not necessary on the part of the operator.

lille tinger Til together with the member 44, see Figures l0 and l1, serve as a caliper for nieasuring the width, thickness and diameter or". the hook or other dimensions of the needle, the principal ones orn which are indicated in Figure l2. Such dimensions relatively small, and it is only necessary tor the ringer 72 to Lhave a slight :el ot adjustment. To measure, for in- ..ince, the width olf the cheek of a needle, the process is exactly similar to that described for determining the distance between the butt and the hook. The cheek of a needle having the proper width or templet is placed between the member 44 and the end of the linger 73. The button 77 is then turned and the member 44 moved until the indicator i8 stands over zero of the dial. rllie nut 72 is then turned, locking the plate 70. and the master needle cheek or templet is .removed and the cheeks of other needles may then be placed between the finger 'T3 and the member 44, and the indicator will show on the dial the number of thousandths of an inch in variation in width or thickness compared with the predetermined width or thickness.

lllhile the linger 64 serves as a convenient means for securing the proper position of the needle at the time it is being calipered having regard to the question ot economy, eiiciency and speed ot'operation, of course the positioning of the needle suliiciently accurate for all practical purposes could be secured without said finger by lining one side of said needle with relation to said slot 45 or any other mark on said plate or means of assistance. The evident ditiiculty, however, of att-emping to locate each individual needle by eye with reference to a mark or line shows the advantage considered from the standpoint of eiiiciency and speed of operation of employing the linger 64 or some substantially equivalent means.

The drawings submitted show theworking mechanism of the caliper and it is to be seen that by a system of levers the lateral movement of the member 44 is magnilied fifty/f times as compared with the movement of the pointer at the end of said lever, thus giving on the dial `for a movement of the member iii of l/lOOO of an inch a substantial and quickly readable distance.

l claim:

l. A caliper for latch needles comprising a relatively fixed member constructed and arranged to be engaged by the surface of the inner face of a latch needle hook, a complemental movable member constructed and arranged to engage the inner face of the butt ot said needle, means to control the position of said needle in engagement with' said members whereby the distance between said members represents the distance between the inner :tace of said hook and the .inner tace of said butt measured on a line from the inner face of said hoolr substantially normal to the inner face of said butt, an indicator arranged to be operated by the movable member, and means when said members are engaged by a templet or needle to adjust said templet or needle and members to bring the indicator to a zero reading Without disturbing the relative positions of said members as xed by said templet or needle.

2. A caliper for latch needles comprising a relatively fixed member constructed and arranged to be engaged by one surface of a latch needle, a complemental movable member constructed and arranged to engage another surface of said needle, a block for supporting said fixed member, an adjusting screw engaging said block for moving the latter toward and from said movable member, means for locking said block in anyV desired position of adjustment, an indicator arranged to be operated by the movable member whereby when said members are in proper engagement with the surfaces of any desired templet or needle the block and the two members connected by said templet or needle can be moved as a unit to adjust the indicator to a zero reading by means of the adjustment of said block and withoutdis tui-hing the relative positions of said members as fixed by said templet or needle, and means to control the position of the latch needle in engagement with said members whereby the distance between said members represents the distance between the inner face of the hook of said needle and the inner face of the butt of said needle measured on a line from the inner face of said hook substantially normal to the inner face of said butt.

3. A caliper tor latch needles comprising a relatively fixed member constructed and arranged to be engaged by the surface of the inner face of a latch needle hook, a complemental movable member constructed and arranged to engage the inner face of the butt or said needle, an indicator arranged to be operated by the movable member, and means when said members are engaged by a templet or needle to adjust said templet or vneedle and members to bring the indicator to a zero reading without disturbing the relative positions of said members as fixed by said templet or needle. Y

fl. A caliper for latch needles comprising a relatively fixed member constructed and arranged to be engaged by theV surface of the inner face of a latch needle hook, a complemental movable member constructed and arranged to engage the inner vface of the butt of said needle, means to control the. position of said needle in engagement with said members whereby the distance between said members represents the distance between the inner faceol said hook and the inner face of said butt measured on a line from the inner tace of said hook substantially normal to the inner face of said butt, and an indicator arranged to be operated by the movable member.

5. A caliper for latch needles comprising a relatively fixed member constructed and arranged to be engaged by the surface of the inner face of a latch needle hook, a complemental movable member constructed and arranged to engage the inner face of the butt of said needle, adjustable means to control the position of said needle in engagement with said members whereby the distance between said members represents the distance between the inner face of Vsaid hook and the inner face of said butt measured on a line'from the inner face of said hook substantially normal to the inner face oi" said butt, and an indicator arranged to be operated by the movable member.

In testimony whereof I have aiixed myV signature.

ROY ALL D. BRADBURY. 

